Dual seal flange adapters from Parker Hannifin were designed to improve the reliability and safety of high-vibration, high-shock hydraulic four-bolt connections in critical subsea oil and gas applications.

Buehler’s EcoMet 250/300 Pro grinder/polisher with AutoMet 250/300 power head features semiautomatic operation and programmability for improved consistency and repeatability in materials analysis and testing.

The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a $15 million contract for production of a low-light-level TV capability, called VNsight, for the Apache's combat-proven Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS), also known as Arrowhead.

Raytheon Co. signed an agreement to acquire Sunnyvale, CA-based Applied Signal Technology Inc., a provider of systems for the collection and processing of communications signals to support tactical and strategic intelligence missions.

Sierra Nevada Corp. awarded Harris Corp. a 30-month, $42 million contract to supply antenna and radar electronics for a satellite that will provide military commanders in the field with timely, high-resolution radar imagery of the Earth's surface— regardless of weather conditions or time of day.

Indian defense company Bharat Electronics Ltd. (BEL) and Danish company Terma signed a strategic agreement for cooperation in various fields of defense technology. The agreement sets the frame for current and future cooperation between the two companies, leveraging and complementing the unique strengths of the companies.

Goodrich Corp. signed an agreement with Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. to supply air data sensors, ice detectors, and windshield heat controllers for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ) aircraft family. Goodrich will deliver the first flight-test hardware in mid-2011.

The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command awarded Lockheed Martin and Kaman Aerospace a $45.8 million contract for K-MAX unmanned aircraft systems for a U.S. Marine Corps evaluation of unmanned cargo resupply in an operational forward deployed environment.

Argonne National Laboratory licensed a patented layered/layered composite cathode material to GM and Korean battery supplier LG Chem for development of next-generation Li-ion battery cells for electrified vehicles. The technology can extend a battery’s energy density by a factor of two.

High-volume Ford platforms will involve routing EVs, hybrids, and plug-ins down the same assembly lines to keep production costs below purpose-built competitors'. A fast-charging system at lower cost is a noteworthy Focus EV feature.

Aerojet announced plans to expand its presence in the Huntsville, AL, community by hiring 25 local engineers. This growth will allow Aerojet to provide collaborative engineering expertise, program management support, and business development outreach to government and prime customers located in the Huntsville area and across the Southeastern U.S.

GKN Aerospace and Magellan Aerospace (U.K.) Ltd. signed an agreement securing a work package containing structural components for the Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft. The package contains a number of major aluminum and titanium structural components and is expected to generate revenues in excess of £21 million over the next five years.

Boeing and Fujitsu established a strategic alliance in which the companies will develop a service to enable greater efficiency in aircraft maintenance operations. Under the new alliance, Fujitsu will provide Boeing with a globally shared platform that includes automated identification technology devices, device readers, software applications, and a system integration and deployment service.

BorgWarner has signed an agreement to acquire the Traction Systems division of Haldex Group, a provider of innovative products for the global vehicle industry headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. "This acquisition supports our continuing strategy to be a global technology leader in providing powertrain solutions," said Timothy M.

Ford's fuel-saving technology that automatically shuts off the engine when the vehicle comes to a stop will soon be added to conventional cars, crossovers, and SUVs in North America. The Auto Start-Stop system will improve fuel economy 4 to 10%, depending on vehicle size and usage, according to the company.

Bright Automotive is now hiring to fill 200 jobs in Southeast Michigan over the next year to bring its IDEA concept vehicle to market. The IDEA is an all-new plug-in electric hybrid vehicle tailored to the needs of fleet vehicle customers.

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act, legislation that will provide blind, visually impaired, and other pedestrians greater security when traveling in close proximity to hybrid or electric vehicles.

The U.S. and South Korea have reached a deal on a free-trade pact. The automotive industry is expected to benefit from the deal, which will give U.S. companies greater access to the Korean market. The overall agreement is expected to boost U.S. exports by $11 billion and support at least 70,000 jobs, President Barack Obama said in a Dec. 4 announcement.

Johnson Controls has signed a purchase agreement to acquire Keiper and the automotive sport and specialty seat business of Recaro. Keiper's headquarters and engineering center are located in Kaiserslautern, Germany.